Tory: City will continue to fund child care occupancy grants in 2017

LEADING THE FIGHT TO REINSTATE 2017 FUNDING FOR THE CHILD CARE OCCUPANCY GRANT

By: Cesar Palacio

The City of Toronto staff’s proposal to end the 20 year “Child Care Occupancy Grant” payable to Public, Catholic and French School Boards, will affect most daycares in the City of Toronto, including Ward 17-Davenport.

There is no question that the City’s proposal to no longer fund this subsidy would affect low-income and middle-income families alike –who are struggling to make ends meet. It is crucial to maintain the Child Care Occupancy Grant for the current year until the province tables a more equitable funding formula. In my opinion, the occupancy grant is helping offset costs pertaining to lighting, heating, maintenance and rent for 350 child care centres in Toronto. These are costs that providers will, no doubt, pass onto low income families.